Gun Politics New York

Mid Hudson News reports:

“Several Democratic Dutchess County Legislators walked out of the monthly meeting on Tuesday to protest what they claim was a protest of “hateful speech” by a member of the public who addressed the lawmakers. The Democrats are accusing Legislature Majority Leader Will Truitt (R-Hyde Park) of inciting the alleged “hate speech.” According to Minority Leader Yvette Valdes Smith (D-Fishkill/Beacon), Truitt read a letter condemning Governor Hochul’s stance on the new state gun laws and was followed by participants who upset the minority caucus when they spoke during the “public comment” portion of the meeting. The Democrats say, “One speaker claimed ‘illegals’ are the cause of the gun problem in the country, while another lamented not being able to bring his gun with him since he had to travel to the City of Poughkeepsie to attend the meeting.” Minority Leader Valdes Smith noted that the speakers thanked Legislator Truitt for inviting them to the meeting … Legislator Giancarlo Llaverias (D-Town of Poughkeepsie) considered the public comments to be racist. In explaining why he walked out of the meeting, he said, “I won’t tolerate the disrespect of my community or of my hometown,” adding “The fact that Will Gunnar Truitt orchestrated this attack against the residents of Poughkeepsie especially the black and brown community is wild,” when referencing the comments from one speaker who complained about having to park a distance from the meeting and he felt unsafe by not being able to carry a weapon due to the new gun laws, which are winding through the courts …”

Typical leftist tacit. When in doubt cry racism and hope that shuts down your opponent.

Why would anyone feel unsafe in Poughkeepsie?

“The suspects who were arrested Sunday after a deadly shooting at a hotel near Marist College in Poughkeepsie have gang ties, police said … The two suspects, 35-year-old Roy Johnson, Jr., and 26-year-old Devin Taylor, are known to police. Both were charged with criminal possession of a weapon and Johnson was additionally charged with murder …”

Speaking of discrimination, what is Tish James’ referencing in her defense of the state’s new gun laws?

“… New York cited historical bans on gun ownership by Native Americans and Catholics to support its current concealed-carry permitting law. The state argued in a Monday filing its “good moral character” clause, which allows officials to deny permits to those they don’t feel are good people, is rooted in the historical tradition of “Anglo-American” gun regulations. It first pointed to several colonial gun bans as analogous to its own law. “From the early days of English settlement in America, the colonies sought to prevent Native American tribes from acquiring firearms, passing laws forbidding the sale and trading of arms to Indigenous people,” the filing from the office of Attorney General Letitia James (D.) reads … “[E]ven after the English Bill of Rights established a right of the people to arm themselves, the right was only given to Protestants, based on a continued belief that Catholics were likely to engage in conduct that would harm themselves or others and upset the peace,” the filing said …”